Former Lafourche spokesman claims his firing was improper

Published: Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 10:39 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 10:39 a.m.

Lafourche Parish’s Civil Service Board will have to review the case of former spokesman Logan Banks further before determining if he was improperly fired last year.

The board heard more than three hours of testimony from parish employees at a Wednesday hearing before deciding it could not immediately rule.

Banks was fired in the wake of Hurricane Isaac last year. He had served as the parish’s spokesman for 11 months.

The spokesman acts as a liaison for media and crafts outreach efforts for the local government.

Banks claims he was the scapegoat for political pressure following parish government’s attempts to communicate the conditions in Kraemer and Bayou Boeuf immediately following Isaac.

Parish President Charlotte Randolph’s testimony characterized Banks as “aloof” during the storm and said he was fired for shortcomings during his 11 months of employment and his failure to accurately portray conditions in Kraemer and Bayou Boeuf.

Randolph’s attorneys presented testimony from a handful of parish employees who claimed Banks had trouble grasping the technical aspects of the job and others who claimed he was slow to produce news releases.

There is no written review in Banks’ employment file, though a review did take place, Randolph said. In this review, Randolph said Banks was informed of his professional shortcomings and agreed to improve.

This evaluation was not properly processed by government officials because Randolph said Banks turned it into the wrong place.

While some of the discussion focused on Banks’ job performance, one particular episode is said to be the final straw in his employment.

The night and early morning of Aug. 30 saw Isaac dump massive amounts of rain into the watershed that drains areas, including north Lafourche. Water pressed against the levees protecting Kraemer and Bayou Boeuf.

There were plans to evacuate those communities, but that didn’t happen. Instead a small army of residents, parish workers, jail trusties and officers worked through Thursday night into Friday morning fortifying the levees.

Their efforts were successful, though the water did overtop the levee in places.

Phone calls from residents to New Orleans media and a news release from Gov. Bobby Jindal’s office the following day set rumors flying.

Some calls indicated flooding and substantial failure of the area’s levees. The news release stated that local officials conducted a voluntary evacuation of 1,000 people, the levee had overtopped and assistance had been offered with search and rescue efforts.

Bank’s says he was ordered by Randolph’s husband, George, to quell rumors those rumors.

The Daily Comet and Courier quoted Banks as saying there was no evacuation and that the situation was under control.

Randolph said Banks’ statement was not approved, and it incorrectly down played the situation — warranting his termination.

Because the story contradicted reports of an evacuation, but was truthful, Banks argued he was made the fall-guy when Jindal’s office called inquiring about the discrepancy.

Randolph admits to speaking with Jindal’s spokesman Kyle Plotkin, but said Banks’ job failures was the reason he was fired.

At Randolph’s request, the Daily Comet and Courier corrected the article to clarify the governor’s statements.

The board will meet again Feb. 6 to render its decision. Board Vice Chairwoman Joyce Leonard said the board needed to “review more data” before coming to a decision.

<p>Lafourche Parish's Civil Service Board will have to review the case of former spokesman Logan Banks further before determining if he was improperly fired last year. </p><p>The board heard more than three hours of testimony from parish employees at a Wednesday hearing before deciding it could not immediately rule. </p><p>Banks was fired in the wake of Hurricane Isaac last year. He had served as the parish's spokesman for 11 months. </p><p>The spokesman acts as a liaison for media and crafts outreach efforts for the local government. </p><p>Banks claims he was the scapegoat for political pressure following parish government's attempts to communicate the conditions in Kraemer and Bayou Boeuf immediately following Isaac. </p><p>Parish President Charlotte Randolph's testimony characterized Banks as “aloof” during the storm and said he was fired for shortcomings during his 11 months of employment and his failure to accurately portray conditions in Kraemer and Bayou Boeuf. </p><p>Randolph's attorneys presented testimony from a handful of parish employees who claimed Banks had trouble grasping the technical aspects of the job and others who claimed he was slow to produce news releases. </p><p>There is no written review in Banks' employment file, though a review did take place, Randolph said. In this review, Randolph said Banks was informed of his professional shortcomings and agreed to improve. </p><p>This evaluation was not properly processed by government officials because Randolph said Banks turned it into the wrong place. </p><p>While some of the discussion focused on Banks' job performance, one particular episode is said to be the final straw in his employment. </p><p>The night and early morning of Aug. 30 saw Isaac dump massive amounts of rain into the watershed that drains areas, including north Lafourche. Water pressed against the levees protecting Kraemer and Bayou Boeuf. </p><p>There were plans to evacuate those communities, but that didn't happen. Instead a small army of residents, parish workers, jail trusties and officers worked through Thursday night into Friday morning fortifying the levees. </p><p>Their efforts were successful, though the water did overtop the levee in places. </p><p>Phone calls from residents to New Orleans media and a news release from Gov. Bobby Jindal's office the following day set rumors flying. </p><p>Some calls indicated flooding and substantial failure of the area's levees. The news release stated that local officials conducted a voluntary evacuation of 1,000 people, the levee had overtopped and assistance had been offered with search and rescue efforts.</p><p>Bank's says he was ordered by Randolph's husband, George, to quell rumors those rumors. </p><p>The Daily Comet and Courier quoted Banks as saying there was no evacuation and that the situation was under control. </p><p>Randolph said Banks' statement was not approved, and it incorrectly down played the situation — warranting his termination. </p><p>Because the story contradicted reports of an evacuation, but was truthful, Banks argued he was made the fall-guy when Jindal's office called inquiring about the discrepancy. </p><p>Randolph admits to speaking with Jindal's spokesman Kyle Plotkin, but said Banks' job failures was the reason he was fired. </p><p>At Randolph's request, the Daily Comet and Courier corrected the article to clarify the governor's statements. </p><p>The board will meet again Feb. 6 to render its decision. Board Vice Chairwoman Joyce Leonard said the board needed to “review more data” before coming to a decision. </p><p>She declined further comment.</p><p>Neither Banks nor Randolph would comment after the meeting.</p>